“the hybridization between local characters and ...the persian gulf. in 1507, the portuguese...

POLITECNICO DI MILANO_ FACULTY OF DESIGN_ MSC IN INTERIOR DESIGN

“The hybridization between local characters and international traits in

Dubai's architecture” Final Thesis

Student: Sada Sechante

Attending Professor: Prof. Luciano Crespi

4/29/2014

With ambitions to become a hub of global commerce, a top tourist destination and a shopping Mecca—a New York/Las Vegas/Miami rolled into one—Dubai has been spending billions of dollars to build an astonishing modern city nearly from scratch in a mere 15 years. Combining the involvement of local businesses and innovative strategies of urban marketing with headline catching projects, Dubai has set out to transform its urban landscape, and its image. Ambitious mixed-use urban development’s featuring luxury residences, hotels and office blocks, huge shopping malls and imaginative entertainment complexes are rapidly changing the face of Dubai emirate and are putting the Dubai property market on the world stage. But in the meantime what happened to this city’s history of architecture? How was the city transformed and what characters where mixed to give birth to the architecture we see in Dubai today? Is it true that the migration of an architectural style from an area to another foreign area is something that should be rejected because it will cut its relations to its heritage, traditions and culture? Does it lead to double personality and the loss of one's identity? Could Dubai develop from a desert to a cosmopolitan city by keeping also its own character?

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- Index

Chapters:

1. Introduction

2. General info about the UAE

1.1 Brief introduction of the UAE

1.2 History

1.3 Geography

1.4 Climate

1.5 Government and politics

1.6 Dubai

3. Local and traditional architecture of Dubai

4. The transition phase (from traditional to modern)

5. Dubai's architecture today (mix of identities and styles)

6. Opinions, comments, conclusion

- Resources

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Chapter 1

1. Introduction

With ambitions to become a hub of global commerce, a top tourist destination and a

shopping Mecca—a New York/Las Vegas/Miami rolled into one—Dubai has been

spending billions of dollars to build an astonishing modern city nearly from scratch in

a mere 15 years. Combining the involvement of local businesses and innovative

strategies of urban marketing with headline catching projects, Dubai has set out to

transform its urban landscape, and its image. Ambitious mixed-use urban

development’s featuring luxury residences, hotels and office blocks, huge shopping

malls and imaginative entertainment complexes are rapidly changing the face of

Dubai emirate and are putting the Dubai property market on the world stage. But in

the meantime what happened to this city’s history of architecture? How was the city

transformed and what characters where mixed to give birth to the architecture we

see in Dubai today? Is it true that the migration of an architectural style from an area

to another foreign area is something that should be rejected because it will cut its

relations to its heritage, traditions and culture? Does it lead to double personality

and the loss of one's identity? And most importantly, in what way did the local

architecture of Dubai get influenced from the international traits?

3

Chapter 2

2. General info about the UAE

2.1 Brief Introduction of the UAE

The United Arab Emirates, sometimes simply called the Emirates or the UAE, is a

country located in the southeast end of the Arabian Peninsula on the Persian Gulf,

bordering Oman to the east and Saudi Arabia to the south, as well as sharing sea

borders with Qatar, Iran and Pakistan.

The UAE is a federation of seven emirates (equivalent to principalities). Each emirate

is governed by a hereditary emir who jointly forms the Federal Supreme Council

which is the highest legislative and executive body in the country. One of the emirs is

selected as the President of the United Arab Emirates. The constituent emirates are

Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm al-Quwain.

The capital is Abu Dhabi, which is one of the two centers of commercial and cultural

activities, together with Dubai. Islam is the official religion of the UAE, and Arabic is

Photo Source: www.wikipedia.com

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the official language.

In 1962, Abu Dhabi became the first of the emirates to begin exporting oil. The late

Sheikh Zayed, ruler of Abu Dhabi and the first president of the UAE, oversaw the

development of the Emirates and steered oil revenues into healthcare, education

and infrastructure. Today, Emirates oil reserves are ranked as the seventh-largest in

the world, along with world's seventeenth largest natural gas reserves. UAE is one of

the most-developed economies in Western Asia with the world's seventh-highest

GDP per capita. Its most populous city of Dubai has emerged as a global city and a

business gateway for the Middle East and Africa.

2.2 History of the United Arab Emirates

The earliest known human habitation in the UAE dated from 5500 BC. At this early

stage, there is proof of interaction with the outside world, particularly with

civilizations to the northwest in Mesopotamia. These contacts persisted and became

wide-ranging, probably motivated by trade in copper from the Hajar Mountains,

which commenced around 3000 BC. Foreign trade, the recurring motif in the history

of this strategic region, flourished also in later periods, facilitated by the

domestication of the camel at the end of the second millennium BC.

By the 1st century AD overland caravan traffic between Syria and cities in southern

Iraq began. Also, there was seaborne travel to the important port of Omana

(present-day Umm al-Qaiwain) and

then to India. These routes were an

alternative to the Red Sea route

used by the Romans. Pearls had

been exploited in the area for

millennia but at this time the trade

reached new heights. Seafaring was

also a mainstay and major fairs

were held at Dibba, bringing in

merchants from as far as China.

Advent of Islam

The arrival of envoys from the Islamic prophet Muhammad in 630 heralded the

conversion of the region to Islam. After Muhammad, one of the major battles of the

Ridda Wars was fought at Dibba resulting in the defeat of the non-Muslims and the

triumph of Islam in the Arabian Peninsula.

Photo Source: www.wikipedia.com

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In 637, Julfar (today Ra's al-Khaimah) was used as a staging post for the Islamic

invasion of Sasanian Iran. Over many centuries, Julfar became a wealthy port and

pearling center from which dhows travelled throughout the Indian Ocean especially

to neighboring land of Sindh and its cities of Thatta and Debal.

Portuguese rule (1506–1620)

Portuguese expansion into the Indian Ocean in the early 16th century following

Vasco da Gama's route of exploration saw them battle Safavid Persia up the coast of

the Persian Gulf. In 1507, the Portuguese Captain Afonso de Albuquerque sailed a

small fleet into the Gulf of Oman and the Straits of Hormuz seeking a way of by-

passing Arab traders and taking control of the Indian Ocean to increase the amount

of wealth flowing into the Portuguese monarchy's coffers. Vasco da Gama was

helped by Ahmad Ibn Majid, a navigator and cartographer from Julfar, to find the

spice route from Asia.

Affonso d'Albuquerque set sail in 1506, intent on founding a Portuguese empire in

the Persian Gulf. The following year, the area of the Emirates soon became a target.

After sacking Sohar in Oman, he pillaged and burnt to the ground the Fujairah port of

Khor Fakkan, before overwhelming Hormuz Island. Over the succeeding decades the

Portuguese invested considerable time and energy in trying to keep order along the

coasts of Arabia, as local Emirati tribes rebelled against Portuguese control, and in

fending off challenges from the Ottoman Empire. In the Emirates, Portuguese forts

were constructed all along the East Coast beginning in the north at Dibba and

proceeding south to Khor Fakkan, Fujairah, Sharjah and Ras al-Khaimah. Remnants of

the Portuguese forts have been located at Bidya and Julfar, but the ruins of the

remaining ones continue to elude archaeologists and historians.

By the early seventeenth century, the Portuguese were beginning to suffer from the

efforts of the East India Company and the Safavids to expel them from the region.

They were dislodged from their base on Bahrain in 1602, from Bandar Abbas in

southern Iran in 1615, and from Ras al-Khaimah in 1620.

Saudi rule (1744–1891)

Between 1744 and 1891, the Emirates was officially part of the First Saudi State, and

after the Ottoman–Saudi War, was officially part of the Second Saudi State. Despite

this, the first and second Saudi states had very little influence and control over the

Emirates. During this time, the Ottoman Navy tried to gain influence along the coast

but the Saudi rulers were too busy fighting the Ottomans in the Hejaz and therefore

could never have effectively ruled the Emirates in a traditional way, let alone come

to their assistance and fight a two-front war. As a result, the Emirates operated

independently from the capital city Diriyah during the first Saudi state and later from

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Riyadh which was the capital during the Second Saudi state. The Emirates also had

an extremely high degree of autonomy. Not only could they negotiate treaties with

outside powers if they wanted to, they also had their own militias and navies.

After the Ottoman-Saudi War in 1818 which led to the collapse of the first Saudi

state, the British eventually got the upper hand, but the region was known to the

British as the "Pirate Coast", as raiders based there harassed the shipping industry

despite both European and Omani navies patrolling the area from the 17th century

into the 19th. British expeditions to protect the Indian trade from raiders at Ras al-

Khaimah led to campaigns against that headquarters and other harbours along the

coast in 1819. The following year, Britain and local rulers signed a treaty to combat

piracy along the Persian-Gulf coast. Yet according to the local Qawassim version, the

piracy issue was a pretext. The British Empire tried to further establish itself in the

Persian Gulf region and to secure it from any other European influence, particularly

from France and Russia, not from local raiders. This version has been particularly

well articulated by the current emir of Sharjah in his 1986 book 'The Myth of Arab

Piracy in the Gulf'. From this, and from later agreements, the area became known as

the Trucial Coast. Raids continued intermittently until 1835, when the sheikhs

agreed not to engage in hostilities at sea. In 1853, they signed a treaty with the

British, under which the sheikhs (the "Trucial Sheikhdoms") agreed to a "perpetual

maritime truce." It was enforced by the United Kingdom, and disputes among

sheikhs were referred to the British for settlement. The Battle of Mulayda in 1891

marked the formal end of the second Saudi state.

British rule (1892–1971)

The following year after the formal collapse of the second Saudi state, and primarily

in reaction to the ambitions of other European countries, the United Kingdom and

the Trucial Sheikhdoms established closer bonds in an 1892 treaty, similar to treaties

entered into by Britain with other principalities in the Persian Gulf. The sheikhs

agreed not to dispose of any territory except to Britain and not to enter into

relationships with any foreign government other than the United Kingdom without

its consent. In return, the British promised to protect the Trucial Coast from all

aggression by sea and to help in case of land attack. British suppression of piracy

meant that pearling fleets could operate in relative security. However, the British

prohibition of the slave trade meant an important source of income was lost to some

sheikhs and merchants.

During the 19th and early 20th centuries, the pearling industry thrived in the

relatively calm sea, providing both income and employment to the people of the

Persian Gulf. It began to become a good economic resource for the local people.

Then the First World War had a severe impact on the pearl fishery, but it was the

economic depression of the late 1920s and early 1930s, coupled with the Japanese

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invention of the cultured pearl, that all but destroyed it. The industry eventually

faded away shortly after the Second World War, when the newly independent

Government of India imposed heavy taxation on pearls imported from the Arab

states of the Persian Gulf. The decline of pearling resulted in a very difficult era, with

little opportunity to build any infrastructure.

Dubai in the mid-20th century; the area in this photo now corresponds to the Al Ras

and Al Shindagha localities of present-day Dubai.

Oil was first discovered in the 1950s. At the beginning of the 1960s, the first oil

company teams carried out preliminary surveys and the first cargo of crude was

exported from Abu Dhabi in 1962. As oil revenues increased, the ruler of Abu Dhabi,

Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, undertook a massive construction program, building

schools, housing, hospitals and roads. When Dubai's oil exports commenced in 1969,

Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the de facto ruler of Dubai, was also able to

use oil revenues to improve the quality of life of his people.

In 1955, the United Kingdom sided with Abu Dhabi in the latter's dispute with Oman

over the Buraimi Oasis, another territory to the south. A 1974 agreement between

Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia would have settled the Abu Dhabi-Saudi border dispute;

however, the agreement has yet to be ratified by the UAE government and is not

recognised by the Saudi government. The border with Oman also remains officially

unsettled, but the two governments agreed to delineate the border in May 1999.

The British had set up a development office that helped in some small developments

in the emirates. The seven sheikhs of the emirates then decided to form a council to

coordinate matters between them and took over the development office. In 1952,

they formed the Trucial States Council, and appointed Adi Bitar, Sheikh Rashid's legal

advisor, as Secretary General and Legal Advisor to the Council. The council was

terminated once the United Arab Emirates was formed. The development of the oil

industry in the 1960s, encouraged unification of the sheikdoms. Sheikh Zayed bin

Sultan Al Nahyan became ruler of Abu Dhabi in 1966 and the British started losing

their oil investments and contracts to U.S. oil companies.

Independence (1971)

By 1966 it had become clear the British Government could no longer afford to

administer and protect what is now the United Arab Emirates. British MPs debated

the preparedness of the Royal Navy to defend the trucial sheikhdoms. Secretary of

State for Defense Denis Healey reported that the British Armed Forces were

seriously overstretched and in some respects dangerously under-equipped to defend

the trucial sheikhdoms. On 24 January 1968, British Prime Minister Harold Wilson

announced the government's decision, reaffirmed in March 1971 by Prime Minister

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Edward Heath to end the treaty relationships with the seven Trucial sheikhdoms that

had been, together with Bahrain and Qatar, under British protection. Days after the

announcement, the ruler of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, fearing

vulnerability, tried to persuade the British to honor the protection treaties by

offering to pay the full costs of keeping the British Armed Forces in the Emirates. The

British Labor government rejected the offer. After Labor MP Goronwy Roberts

informed Sheikh Zayed of the news of British withdrawal, the nine Gulf sheikhdoms

attempted to form a union of Arab emirates, but by mid-1971 they were still unable

to agree on terms of union even though the British treaty relationship was to expire

in December of that year.

Bahrain became independent in August and Qatar in September 1971. When the

British-Trucial Sheikhdoms treaty expired on 1 December 1971, they became fully

independent. The rulers of Abu Dhabi and Dubai decided to form a union between

their two emirates independently, prepare a constitution, then call the rulers of the

other five emirates to a meeting and offer them the opportunity to join. It was also

agreed between the two that the constitution be written by 2 December 1971. On

that date, at the Dubai Guesthouse Palace, four other emirates agreed to enter into

a union called the United Arab Emirates. Bahrain and Qatar declined their invitations

to join the union. Ras al-Khaimah joined later, in early 1972. In February 1972, the

Federal National Council (FNC) was created; it was a 40 member consultative body

appointed by the seven rulers. The UAE joined the Arab League in 1971. It was a

founding member of the Gulf Cooperation Council in May 1981, with Abu Dhabi

hosting the first summit. UAE forces joined the allies against Iraq after the invasion

of Kuwait in 1990.

The UAE supported military operations from the United States and other Coalition

nations that are engaged in the war against the Taliban in Afghanistan (2001) and

Saddam Hussein in Iraq (2003) as well as operations supporting the Global War on

Terrorism for the Horn of Africa at Al Dhafra Air Base located outside of Abu

Dhabi.[citation needed] The air base also supported Allied operations during the

1991 Persian Gulf War and Operation Northern Watch. The country had already

signed a military defense agreement with the U.S. in 1994 and one with France in

1995. In January 2008, France and the UAE signed a deal allowing France to set up a

permanent military base in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. The UAE joined international

military operations in Libya in March 2011.

On 2 November 2004, the UAE's first president, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan,

died. His eldest son, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, succeeded as Emir of Abu

Dhabi. In accordance with the constitution, the UAE's Supreme Council of Rulers

elected Khalifa as president. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan succeeded

Khalifa as Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. In January 2006, Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid

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Al Maktoum, the prime minister of the UAE and the ruler of Dubai, died, and the

crown prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum assumed both roles.

The first-ever national elections were held in the UAE on 16 December 2006. A small

number of hand-picked voters chose half of the members of the Federal National

Council—which is an advisory body.

Largely unaffected by the Arab Spring turmoil, the government has nonetheless

clamped down on Internet activism. In April 2011, five activists who signed an online

petition calling for reforms were imprisoned. They were pardoned and released in

November. Since March 2012 more than 60 activists (later showed evidence of being

moved by Iran to create chaos) have been detained without charge (at the time) –

some of them supporters of the Islah Islamic group. A member of the ruling family in

Ras al-Khaimah was put under house arrest in April 2012 after calling for political

openness. Mindful of the protests in nearby Bahrain, in November 2012 the UAE

outlawed online mockery of its own government or attempts to organize public

protests through social media.

2.3 Geography

The United Arab Emirates is situated in Southwest Asia, bordering the Gulf of Oman

and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia; it is in a strategic location

along southern approaches to the Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world

crude oil.

The UAE lies between 22°30' and 26°10' north latitude and between 51° and 56°25′

east longitude. It shares a 530-kilometer border with Saudi Arabia on the west,

south, and southeast, and a 450-kilometer border with Oman on the southeast and

northeast. The land border with Qatar in the Khawr al Udayd area is about nineteen

kilometers in the northwest; however, it is a source of ongoing dispute. Following

Britain's military departure from UAE in 1971, and its establishment as a new state,

the UAE laid claim to islands resulting in disputes with Iran that remain unresolved.

UAE also disputes claim on other

islands against the neighboring state

of Qatar. The largest emirate, Abu

Dhabi, accounts for 87% of the UAE's

total area (67,340 square kilometers.

The smallest emirate, Ajman,

encompasses only 259 km2.

The UAE coast stretches for more

than 650 km along the southern Photo Source: www.wikipedia.com

10

shore of the Persian Gulf. Most of the coast consists of salt pans that extend far

inland. The largest natural harbor is at Dubai, although other ports have been

dredged at Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and elsewhere. Numerous islands are found in the

Persian Gulf, and the ownership of some of them has been the subject of

international disputes with both Iran and Qatar. The smaller islands, as well as many

coral reefs and shifting sandbars, are a menace to navigation. Strong tides and

occasional windstorms further complicate ship movements near the shore. The UAE

also has a stretch of the Al Bāţinah coast of the Gulf of Oman, although the

Musandam Peninsula, the very tip of Arabia by the Strait of Hormuz is an exclave of

Oman separated by the UAE.

South and west of Abu Dhabi, vast, rolling sand dunes merge into the Rub al-Khali

(Empty Quarter) of Saudi Arabia. The desert area of Abu Dhabi includes two

important oases with adequate underground water for permanent settlements and

cultivation. The extensive Liwa Oasis is in the south near the undefined border with

Saudi Arabia. About 100 km to the northeast of Liwa is the Al-Buraimi oasis, which

extends on both sides of the Abu Dhabi-Oman border. Lake Zakher is a man-made

lake near the border with Oman.

Prior to withdrawing from the area in 1971, Britain delineated the internal borders

among the seven emirates in order to preempt territorial disputes that might

hamper formation of the federation. In general, the rulers of the emirates accepted

the British intervention, but in the case of boundary disputes between Abu Dhabi

and Dubai, and also between

Dubai and Sharjah, conflicting

claims were not resolved until

after the UAE became

independent. The most

complicated borders were in

the Al-Hajar al-Gharbi

Mountains, where five of the

emirates contested

jurisdiction over more than a

dozen enclaves.

2.4 Climate

The climate of the U.A.E is subtropical-arid with hot summers and warm winters. The

hottest months are July and August, when average maximum temperatures reach

above 45 °C (113.0 °F) on the coastal plain. In the Al Hajar Mountains, temperatures

are considerably lower, a result of increased elevation. Average minimum

temperatures in January and February are between 10 and 14 °C (50.0 and 57.2 °F).

During the late summer months, a humid southeastern wind known as Sharqi (i.e.

Photograph by Michael Green, Photolibrary

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"Easterner") makes the coastal region especially unpleasant. The average annual

rainfall in the coastal area is less than 120 mm (4.7 in), but in some mountainous

areas annual rainfall often reaches 350 mm (13.8 in). Rain in the coastal region falls

in short, torrential bursts during the summer months, sometimes resulting in floods

in ordinarily dry wadi beds. The region is prone to occasional, violent dust storms,

which can severely reduce visibility. The Jebel Jais mountain cluster in Ras al-

Khaimah has experienced snow only twice since records began.

2.5 Government and politics

The United Arab Emirates is a federation of absolute hereditary monarchies. It is

governed by a Federal Supreme Council made up of the seven emirs of Abu Dhabi,

Ajman, Fujairah, Sharjah, Dubai, Ras al-Khaimah and Umm al-Qaiwain. All

responsibilities not granted to the national government are reserved to the

emirates. A percentage of revenues from each emirate are allocated to the UAE's

central budget.

Although elected by the Supreme Council, the president and prime minister are

essentially hereditary. The emir of Abu Dhabi holds the presidency, and the emir of

Dubai is prime minister. All but one prime minister served concurrently as vice

president. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan was the UAE's president from the

nation's founding until his death on 2 November 2004. On the following day the

Federal Supreme Council elected his son, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to the

post. Abu Dhabi's crown prince, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, is the heir

apparent.

The UAE convened a half-elected Federal National Council in 2006. The FNC consists

of 40 members drawn from all the emirates. Half are appointed by the rulers of the

constituent emirates, and the other half are indirectly elected to serve two-year

terms. However, the FNC is restricted to a largely consultative role. In December

2008, the Supreme Council approved constitutional amendments both to empower

the FNC and to improve government transparency and accountability.

Dubai is an emirate in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) federation. The main city of

the emirate is also called Dubai. The emirate is located on the southeast coast of the

Persian Gulf and is one of the seven emirates that make up the country. It has the

largest population in the UAE (2,106,177) and the second-largest land territory

(4,114 km2) after the capital, Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi and Dubai are the only two

emirates to have veto power over critical matters of national importance in the

country's legislature. The city of Dubai is located on the emirate's northern coastline

and heads up the Dubai-Sharjah-Ajman metropolitan area.

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The earliest mention of Dubai is in 1095 AD, and the earliest recorded settlement in

the region dates from 1799. Dubai was formally established on the 9th June 1833 by

Sheikh Maktoum bin Butti Al-Maktoum when he persuaded around 800 members of

his tribe of the Bani Yas, living in what was then the Second Saudi State to follow him

to the Dubai Creek by the Abu Falasa clan of the Bani Yas. It remained under the

tribe's control when the United Kingdom agreed to protect the Sheikhdom in 1892

and joined the nascent United Arab Emirates upon independence in 1971 as the

country's second emirate. Its strategic geographic location made the town an

important trading hub and by the beginning of the 20th century, Dubai was already

an important regional port.

Today, Dubai has emerged as a cosmopolitan metropolis that has grown steadily to

become a global city and a business and cultural hub of the Middle East and the

Persian Gulf region. It is also a major transport hub for passengers and cargo.

Although Dubai's economy was historically built on the oil industry, the emirate's

Western-style model of business drives its economy with the main revenues now

coming from tourism, aviation, real estate, and financial services. Dubai has recently

attracted world attention through many innovative large construction projects and

sports events. The city has become symbolic for its skyscrapers and high-rise

buildings, such as the world's tallest Burj Khalifa, in addition to ambitious

development projects including man-made islands, hotels, and some of the largest

shopping malls in the region and the world. This increased attention has also

highlighted labor and human rights issues concerning the city's largely South Asian

workforce. Dubai's property market experienced a major deterioration in 2008–2009

following the financial crisis of 2007-2008, but is making a gradual recovery with help

coming from neighboring emirates.

As of 2012, Dubai is the 22nd most expensive city in the world, and the most

expensive city in the Middle East. Dubai has also been rated as one of the best places

to live in the Middle East, including by American global consulting firm Mercer who

rated the city as the best place to live in the Middle East in 2011.

13

2.6 Dubai

Dubai is an emirate in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) federation. The main city of

the emirate is also called Dubai. The emirate is located on the southeast coast of the

Persian Gulf and is one of the seven emirates that make up the country. It has the

largest population in the UAE (2,106,177) and the second-largest land territory

(4,114 km2) after the capital, Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi and Dubai are the only two

emirates to have veto power over critical matters of national importance in the

country's legislature. The city of Dubai is located on the emirate's northern coastline

and heads up the Dubai-Sharjah-Ajman metropolitan area.

The earliest mention of Dubai is in 1095 AD, and the earliest recorded settlement in

the region dates from 1799. Dubai was formally established on the 9th June 1833 by

Sheikh Maktoum bin Butti

Al-Maktoum when he

persuaded around 800

members of his tribe of the

Bani Yas, living in what was

then the Second Saudi

State to follow him to the

Dubai Creek by the Abu

Falasa clan of the Bani Yas.

It remained under the

tribe's control when the

United Kingdom agreed to

protect the Sheikhdom in

1892 and joined the nascent United Arab Emirates upon independence in 1971 as

the country's second emirate. Its strategic geographic location made the town an

important trading hub and by the beginning of the 20th century, Dubai was already

an important regional port.

Today, Dubai has emerged as a cosmopolitan metropolis that has grown steadily to

become a global city and a business and cultural hub of the Middle East and the

Persian Gulf region. It is also a major transport hub for passengers and cargo.

Although Dubai's economy was historically built on the oil industry, the emirate's

Western-style model of business drives its economy with the main revenues now

coming from tourism, aviation, real estate, and financial services. Dubai has recently

attracted world attention through many innovative large construction projects and

sports events. The city has become symbolic for its skyscrapers and high-rise

buildings, such as the world's tallest Burj Khalifa, in addition to ambitious

development projects including man-made islands, hotels, and some of the largest

shopping malls in the region and the world. This increased attention has also

Photo source: Dubai museum, Dubai

14

highlighted labor and human rights issues concerning the city's largely South Asian

workforce. Dubai's property market experienced a major deterioration in 2008–2009

following the financial crisis of 2007-2008, but is making a gradual recovery with help

coming from neighboring emirates.

As of 2012, Dubai is the 22nd most expensive city in the world, and the most

expensive city in the Middle East. Dubai has also been rated as one of the best places

to live in the Middle East, including by American global consulting firm Mercer who

rated the city as the best place to live in the Middle East in 2011.

Some people say Dubai is one of the wonders of the modern world. A decade ago

the sand was the ruler of this emirate located on the edge of the Arabian Desert with

no discernible natural advantages. Nowadays the sand has been dethroned by the

luxurious futuristic skyscrapers and the exclusive cozy villas scattered around the

coastline. And all this is thanks to the vision of Dubai’s ruler – Sheikh Mohammed

and the belief in his subjects in his idea to turn his country into the center of

international trading and tourism. His logic is simple: if you build it, they will come.

But my question here is, in what way was Dubai built?

Photo source: Dubai museum, Dubai

15

Chapter 3

3. Local and traditional architecture of Dubai

Besides being a town on the old caravan route from Iraq to Oman, Dubai was also a

transit port for dhows between India east Africa and the northern part of the Gulf.

Gradually it developed into a busy commercial center where people of different

cultures and traditions settled and mixed, leading to today's multi-cultural society.

"Like most Arabian Gulf coastal cities, Dubai was established on land near a creek

and fresh water. Creeks provided natural ports for dhows, and the sea was a

convenient way of transportation, besides being a means of providing food and pearl

diving," explains Rashad M. Bukhash, head of historical buildings section at Dubai

Municipality.

Bukhash explained how Dubai's traditional architecture is a result of the mixture of

nationalities of people who lived here.

“In general it is influenced by Islamic architecture which developed in the region. Its

main features are simplicity, functionality, durability and suitability for climatic

environments and social life. The courtyard houses are an aspect of Islamic

architecture and are well suited to the local climate," he said.

Many elements of the architecture are imported from neighboring countries, such as

the wind-towers and decorative panels from Iran as well as carved doors and

balconies from India. The first thorough description of Dubai was given by the British

Lieutenant Cogan in 1822, who recorded that the population then was around 1200

people, that there was a low wall around the town with three watch-towers and that

16

the houses were made of mud. Lieutenant Cogan drew the first map of Dubai city

and its elevation from the sea. In 1841 smallpox broke out on the Bur Dubai side of

the creek and as a result people moved to Deira side and started to build houses and

markets. Consequently, Deira became larger than Bur Dubai. In 1894 fire swept

through Deira, burning down most of the dwellings. Richer people began building

their houses from coral stone and gypsum which was more fire resistant.

G.G. Lorimer is considered one of the best historians and geographers to describe

the Arabian Gulf at the beginning of this century. He recorded the statistics of Dubai

in 1908 as follows: "There is no customs; the yearly revenue is $51,400 mainly from

pearls. In Deira side there are 1600 houses and 350 shops. In Shindagha area there

are 250 houses. In (Bur) Dubai there are 200 houses and about 50 shops. There are

about 4000 date palm trees in the town, 1650 camels, 45 horses, 380 donkeys, 430

cattle and 960 goats. In the creek, there are 155 boats for diving and trading and 20

small boats - abras- to take passengers between the two banks of the creek."

At the beginning of the century, Dubai became a main trading center in the Arabian

Gulf where dhows handled the import and export of goods between the ports of

India and east Africa. The main income was from pearls which people used to dive

for in the hot summer months. The city expanded during this period, the population

increased and Dubai experienced a construction boom.

However, the pearl trade started to decline after Japan produced cultured pearls in

1930 and the economy began to deteriorate. The 1930s and '40s were slow years for

Dubai. The introduction of cultured pearls by Japan on the one hand, and the start of

the Second World War on the other, led to widespread economic depression.

Consequently, people migrated to neighboring countries such as Saudi Arabia and

Kuwait where more job opportunities were available. The population dropped

significantly from 38,000 in 1940 to just 20,000 in 1953.

The first oil agreement was signed with Britain in 1937 to search for oil in Dubai on

land. Thirty years later, oil was discovered offshore. The first production was in 1969.

Oil discovery increased the Emirate's income and subsequently, major infrastructure

projects were embarked upon.

17

Cement was first imported to Dubai in 1955 and the first concrete building was built

in 1956. Cement was much cheaper than gypsum, which was traditionally used for

building construction, so that in a few years the tradition of constructing buildings

with coral stone and gypsum vanished and replaced with ready-made cement block

construction. This was the beginning of a new era where traditional ways and forms

of architecture were abandoned and new modern styles adopted.

The traditional architecture of Dubai

The traditional architecture of Dubai was basically the result of three main factors:

the hot and humid climate, people's social lives and religion, and locally available

construction materials.

Climate

In response to the hot and humid climate, three

architectural elements are visible.

1. As in most Islamic cities, buildings were

constructed close to each other. This type of

high-density structure created narrow alleys,

known as sikkas, which were shaded for most

of the day. These alleys tended to run from

north to south and ended at the creek,

permitting the prevailing north winds to pass

through. The narrowness of the alleys caused

Photo source: plus.google.com/photo

Photo source: photo by S.Shehadeh

18

the wind to increase in velocity as it breezed through, creating a comfortable

pedestrian zone.

2. The second element is the courtyard house, where most of the rooms look

inward with shaded verandas overlooking the courtyard. The courtyard

generated wind movement in the house by allowing hot air to ascend the

cooler air to replace it from the surrounding rooms.

Photo source: photo by S.Shehadeh

Photo source: www.declome.com

19

3. Wind-towers (bastikiyya) were a unique and elegant architectural element,

acting as conduits for the trapped air to be directed to the rooms beneath.

Usually bed and sitting areas were situated directly under the wind-tower to

enjoy the cool air coming through. In winter, these wind-towers were

boarded up with wooden planks to protect the room from rain.

Photo source: www.mountainsoftravelphotos.com


20

People’s social lives and religion

The effect of religion and social interaction on local architecture can be observed in

two ways.

1. Islamic religious teaching encourages privacy and modesty, and courtyard

houses fulfilled this condition by providing an inward-looking house. All the

rooms were open onto the courtyard and the exterior walls were mostly solid

except for some small ventilation openings quite high up, preventing

pedestrians looking in. The zigzag entrance to the houses, where the main

gate was faced with a solid wall to provide privacy and prevent people from

staring in, is another facet of that.

2. Air pullers are a unique piece of local architecture. To avoid opening windows

to the exterior, the architect Ostaad overcame the problem by replacing the

opening of the window with two thin parallel walls with a distance of about

10 centimeters in between them. This design enabled the wind to strike the

upper wall, be deflected into the opening and then pass though the lower

wall into the adjacent room, providing both air and privacy to the occupants.

Locally available construction materials

The vernacular architecture in the region depended totally on the locally available

materials.

1. In the mountainous areas the oldest houses were made from stones put on

each other simply to make a wall and occasionally the gaps were filled with

mud. The roofs were covered with palm tree trunks and fronds. Later on,

walls were made from

small mountain stones

and mud was used as

mortar, roofs were

covered with palm tree

trunks and mats were

made from palm tree

leaves and mud.

2. In the desert, Bedouins

moved from one place to

another looking for Photo source: Image by deconcrete2013

21

water. Therefore, their houses had to be portable and easy to dismantle.

Tents made from camel hairs were the best choice. Camel hairs were dyed in

several colors using natural plants, dried and then woven into colorful tents-

"bait shaar". In areas where Bedouins stayed for long periods of time, they

used palm tree fronds and trunks to make their dwellings.

3. In urbanized areas, two types of construction prevailed.

A. Buildings made from coral stones and gypsum tended to be either public

institutions, such as watch-towers, mosques and markets, or houses of

rich people. Coral stones were collected along the shore or dug up from

the sea while gypsum was made on the outskirts of the city.

coral stone

Gypsum stones were collected and burned for a few days, then ground

into powder and mixed with water when applied to a building. Ceilings in

earlier houses were covered with palm tree trunks, mats and gypsum. At

the beginning of the century when Dubai trade was at a peak, palm tree

trunks were replaced with sandalwood joists imported from east Africa.

Photo source: Dubai municipality articles

Photo source: Image by deconcrete2013

Photo source: www.flickr.com

22

palm tree trunks

In the 1920s and'30s when trade with India flourished rectangular

wooden joists, known as morrabaa, were imported from south India.

"Morrabaa was the preferred wood as it was longer and stronger than

sandalwood joists. In some cases, the roof was laid with a layer of burned

mud "sarooj", which was introduced from Iran and proved to be

waterproof. In mountain areas where mud was available, sarooj was

made by mixing mud with hay and cow manure, burned for a few days,

then powdered and mixed with water. Doors and windows were made

from solid teakwood imported from southern India and carved with

geometrical decorations. Decorative items used in arches, wind-towers,

rooms and architrave were made from gypsum powder. The decorative

panel was poured on a flat surface, geometrical or floral designs were cut

or carved onto the mold and then it was fixed in its position with gypsum

mortar.

Calligraphy ornaments



23

Gypsum ornaments

gates


24

Construction method


25

B. The second type of construction used in the city was houses made of

palm tree trunks and fronds, locally called areesh or kheima. Lower-

income citizens lived in these houses. The main structure was made from

palm tree trunks and the walls and ceilings were made from "daen", dried

palm tree fronds tied together with kombaar, rope made from coconut

tree fibers. In some cases, the fronds were cleaned of leaves to give more

beauty and stability. Some of the houses had a portable wind-tower over

the main room, the skeleton of which was made from palm tree trunks

covered by a sack. The wind-tower was used in summer and in winter it

was dismantled and the opening in the ceiling was covered with palm

fronds.

Areesh

Wind towers



26

According to Bukhash, urban buildings could be divided into four categories:

defensive, residential, markets and mosques.

1. "Defensive architecture is the most prominent because it was the largest in

scale. At the beginning of the 19th century Dubai was a small town with

roughly 800 inhabitants," he says. Dubai was surrounded with a 2.5 meter

high and 60 centimeters thick wall made from what were considered to be

the strongest available materials, coral stones and gypsum. The main fort Al

Fahidi, built in 1799, was located inside the town and was used as a residence

for the ruler and a place of shelter for the people whenever they were

attacked.

Al Fahidi fort

2. There were two types of residential buildings: the palm tree frond houses

"khaima" for the low income people and the large courtyard houses made

from coral stone and gypsum for the rich people. In the 19th century, most of

the houses were of one storey only. At the beginning of this century when

Dubai opened its doors to international trade, many merchants settled in

Dubai and started building two storey houses. Wind-towers and toilets were

introduced into the houses in the 1920s. The houses were close to each other

with narrow curved alleys in between them, creating a strong neighborhood.


27

Each building housed a large family consisting of parents, sons and their

wives and children.

Old neighborhood

Sh. Saeed Al Maktoum’s house, 1896

3. Since Dubai was the city of traders, numerous markets "souqs" and storage

areas were built on both banks of the creek. As in most Islamic cities, similar

traders joined together to create specialized markets named after them, such

as the gold souq, the animal markets, the herb sellers. Markets consisted of a

main street or alley shaded with palm tree fronds or mats, with gates on the

two ends that were closed after sunset. Shops were constructed from coral

stones and gypsum on both sides of the street, about three meters wide and

four meters high, with two large leaf doors. In the 1950s larger shops were

constructed made of two adjacent spaces with one wind-tower over it to

reduce the heat of the summer.


Photo source: SIKKA 2013 - photo by Analog Production

28

Grand souq, Bur Dubai

4. Mosques were built in both residential and commercial areas to enable

people to perform their prayers five times a day, while people gathered every

Friday for prayer in the grand mosque on the Dubai side. This mosque was

the most elegant building in the town with its 52 small domes and a short

minaret. In residential areas, small mosques were constructed from coral

stones and gypsum. Since there was no need for privacy in religious buildings,

windows covered all exterior walls to collect breezes from all directions and

ventilate the space. Aside from worship, mosques were used as schools

where children learnt Quran, writing, reading, religious affairs and

mathematics. In the 1960s, simple designs were introduced as well as cement

blocks and reinforced concrete. Some of the buildings in this period were

school and governmental like Dubai municipality buildings and lands

department. Dubai's clock tower and the flame round-about commemorating

the discovery of oil were constructed during this time.


29

Al Otaibat Mosque

Al Ahmadiya school



30

Chapter 4

4. The transition phase

After the production of oil in 1969, Dubai witnessed the beginning of the boom.

During the 1970s, many infrastructure projects including roads, drainage, housing

and commercial buildings, were started. Dubai's population surged from 60,000 to

206,000 between 1967 and 1977. Because of the rapid construction in this decade

there was no guide to control the type and shape of architecture; different

international designs and style were produced.

Some of the major projects constructed in this decade are Rashid hospital, the Dubai

world trade center (39 floors), Shindagha tunnel, Al Garhood bridge, the dry docks

and Jebel Ali port as well as the airport.

1980s witnessed more infrastructure projects and more modern buildings with some

relation to local culture. Some of the local architects graduated and stared designing

buildings with reference to traditional architecture. Dubai municipality had shade

and water pools introduced into its buildings while Al Wasl hospital used traditional

arches.

The first renovation project was Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum's house, which now

houses a photography museum. The decade of the 1990s is considered to be the

maturing stage of Dubai architecture, where most of the main buildings are designed

with some respect to the traditional culture and heritage. More than 40 buildings

have been restored in the past eight years and used as museums, restaurants and

shops.

31

The new materials and technologies now available are enabling more adventurous

designs.

Restoration works in Dubai

The Bastakiya Quarter should be atop any list of architecture heritage sites in the

UAE. The Quarter is a complete restoration of a wealthy neighborhood settled in the

late 1800s by Persian traders. A beautiful labyrinth of narrow laneways and cozy

coffee shops, the Quarter is a lovely locale to while away an afternoon.

Photo source: Photos by S.Shehadeh

32

Photo source: Photos by S.Shehadeh

33

Another example of the city’s restoration work is the Al-Ahmadiya School, a superb

example of traditional Islamic architecture. The school, founded by Sheikh

Mohammed bin Ahmed bin Dalmouk in 1912, was in operation until 1962 and is now

open as an education museum. Al-Ahmadiya has undergone extensive renovations

to preserve the classrooms as they

appeared in the 1920s and 1930s.

While providing a fascinating insight

into education in a bygone area, the

school also offers visitors some

beautiful design work, notably the

intricately carved arches and

decorative gypsum panels.



34

Built in 1896, the palace of Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum is located on the historical

Shindagha waterfront and was home to royalty until the late 1950s. Undergoing

substantial restorations in 1986, the palace reopened as a museum and now displays

an enormous collection of photographs documenting the pre-oil history of Dubai. Of

design note is the use of ‘wind towers’, an effective early air-conditioning system.


35

Illuminated at night, the rose-colored sandstone is the only mosque in the UAE open

to non-Muslims. Built in the 1970s in the Fatimid tradition, the Mosque is an

essential visit. The glitz and the glamour of Dubai will compel even those with the

scantiest interest in architecture to become connoisseurs. Boasting grand examples

of both preserved and modern Islamic, Iranian, Indian and Arabic design right

through to spectacular skyscrapers and manmade islands, the emirate ensures that

all that steel, sand and stone is put to exceptional use.

Photo source: www.archaeoadventures.com

36

Chapter 5

5. Dubai's architecture today

Dubai is one of only a few locations worldwide where iconic architecture is not only

encouraged, but actively pursued. As long as it is eye-catching, it seems that anything goes,

from the sublime to the outrageous, and sometimes a combination of the two. What is

interesting is Dubai’s extraordinarily short building cycle. At less than 50 years old, Dubai is

remaking its own image faster than any other city in the world. Nearly a quarter of all the

world’s construction cranes are hard at work here, leaving the beholder with plenty of iconic

architecture for sightseeing. Strategically positioned on the trade route between Europe and

Asia, Dubai has long been an important hub for commerce. Boasting oil and natural gas

reserves, the world’s largest manmade port and a thriving banking sector, Dubai is a

prosperous state and the most populous emirate in the UAE. Wealth catapulted Dubai onto

the world stage as a major player in business; riches are also behind its positioning as a

world-class architectural destination.

Following are the most famous architecture buildings and complexes in Dubai.

Photo source: www.sites.psu.edu

37

Dubai is perhaps best known for Burj al Arab, a 321-metre white spinnaker yacht sail,

dominating the skyline. Built offshore in the Arabian Gulf on a spectacular manmade

island, the sail is home to a multi award-winning $650 million seven-star hotel. At

night the sail is illuminated in a dazzling multicolored light display. Perhaps the most

intriguing feature of the complex is the submerged Al Mahara Restaurant, which

diners need to access via submarine, travelling down through a two-storey tropical

aquarium. The first modern building in the city, the National Bank of Dubai, is

located in the eastern part of the city on the banks of the Dubai Creek. Upon

completion in 1998, the bank was the fifth tallest building in city. As with Burj al

Arab, the city’s rich maritime history is evident in its sail-like design – the building

boasts a large curved frontage made of gold glass and reflects the creek below.

Photo source: www.worldlinkmed.com

38

Photos source: www.jumeirah.com

39

Continuing the maritime theme is the distinctive Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club, a

stellar example of modern architecture. Topped by three white triangular canopies –

their appearance again distinctly sail-like – bearing strong semblance to the Sydney

Opera House, the club became an instant design destination on opening in 1993.

Completed in 2000 was the Emirates

Towers Complex: two towers on the busy

commercial strip of Sheikh Zayed Road.

The larger tower is the head office for the

airline Emirates, with the smaller being

home to a hotel and shopping mall. Of

greatest design note is the juxtaposition

between the two towers depending on

where in the city you stand – from some

vantage points, the towers appear miles

apart, at other junctures they appear

fused. Wherever you stand, both appear

imposing.

Photos source: www.skygolfblog.com


40

At a staggering 828 meters, the world’s tallest tower is Burj Khalifa, which appears

to pierce the sky with its needle of fi ne glass. Often also called Burj Dubai, Khalifa

was built at a cost of US$1.5 billion and was unveiled in 2010. The tower broke not

only height records but construction records too, utilizing 330,000 cubic meters of

concrete, 39,000 metric tons of steel and 142,000 square meters of glass.

Khalifa is home to a diverse mix of residential, commerce, shopping and leisure

facilities and the first Giorgio Armani hotel. While an unequivocal example of cutting

edge modern architecture, Khalifa pays homage to a number of Islamic and Arabic

traditions evident in the incorporation of onion domes, pointed arches and desert

flowers into the design.

Photo source: www.dubaidhow.com

Photo source: www.urbansplatter.com

42

Madinat Jumeirah is an Arabian-style complex of hotels and restaurants, conference

facilities, spas, malls and markets located a 30-minute drive from Dubai Airport.

Inspired by the Arabian royal summer palaces, the complex boasts sand-colored

buildings flanked by waterways and gardens. While complexes like Madinat Jumeirah

may take inspiration from Dubai’s past, most buildings in the city are fewer than 20

years old. Those rare exceptions of the past, however, are well worth a visit.

Photos source: www.edsaplan.com

43

Dubai Marina is a district in the heart of what has recently become known as 'new

Dubai', in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is located at 25°4′52.86″N, 55°8′38.67″E on

Interchange 5 between Jebel Ali Port and the area which hosts Dubai Internet City,

Dubai Media City and the American University in Dubai. The first phase of this

project has been completed.

The marina is entirely man-made and has been developed by the real estate

development firm Emaar Properties of the United Arab Emirates. The marina will

contain over 200 high-rise buildings and some supertall skyscrapers, Dubai Marina

Towers, The Torch Dubai Marina, Infinity Tower, The Princess Tower, Number One

Dubai Marina, Marina Terrace, Le Reve and Horizon Tower to name a few, and

comprise of an area of 4.9 million m² (50 million ft²), which includes the 40

residential and hotel towers of the Jumeirah Beach Residence.

Photo source: photo by Vadim Makhorov

44

Photo source: photos by Vadim Makhorov

45

Atlantis, the palm

Situated at the center of the crescent

of the Palm Jumeirah, the water

theme park serves as the

centerpiece of the resort which

includes a luxury hotel, spa, retail

entertainment village, and distinctive

archeological marine exhibits. The

design was based on the myth of

Atlantis and maintains the iconic

design elements of the Paradise

Island property, while incorporating

traditional Arabic design themes.

Photo source: www.atlantisthepalm.com

46

The Dubai Mall is the world's largest shopping mall based on total area and

thirteenth largest by gross leasable area. Located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

(U.A.E), it is part of the 20-billion-dollar Downtown Dubai complex, and includes

1,200 shops. Access to the mall is provided via Doha Street, rebuilt as a double-

decker road in April 2009.

Photos source: www.thedubaimall.com

47

Chapter 6

6. Opinions/ Conclusion

While working and living the past year in Dubai, I realized many things. Every day I

had a different opinion and getting even more confused. Dubai for me, with some

small exceptions is a city without identity. Living in Dubai is like living without a past

and this is sad to know and very hard to get used to, especially when you come from

places with huge history. Dubai is the city where everything is possible. But nothing

can substitute tradition, culture and most importantly nature.

In my opinion the architecture we see today in Dubai doesn’t respect culture, has no

tradition and its only characterization is that it’s new. But is this fully true;

If we think about it, the UAE is a new country that started in 1971, and before that it

was generally only desert. And because it is a rich country it has faster modernizing

movements that grabs all the world attention. So, the UAE did not have buildings in

its history, how is it possible that these projects have UAE style and identity? Well, in

my opinion, UAE is supposed to be the heart of the Arab countries and not a show

off but a leader to these important civilizations. Arabic architecture is so rich and is

spread all over the world and it’s a pity that it is not the main architecture of this

city. And we can see this in the few building and projects which follow a deep history

and culture. To conclude, I don’t say that Dubai shouldn’t be influenced by

modernity and not create new ideas and unique projects but what I would have liked

to see is the development of something past to something new, and this is what I

tried to find during my project but I hardly did.

48

Resources

Books

- Records of Dubai 1761-1960, Archive Editions, 2000, Vol.1

- Dubai – Gateway to the Gulf, edited by Ian Fairservice, Motivate Publishing,

1986

- Architectural Heritage of the Gulf, Shirley Kay and Dariush Zandi, Motivate

Publishing, 1991

- Land of the Emirates, Shirley Kay, Motivate Publishing, 1999

- The UAE and Oman, 2 Pearls of Arabia, Walter M. Weiss and Kurt-Michael

Westermann, Motivate Publishing, 1996

- Charter of Dubai A Manifesto of Critical Urban Transformation, Sabine Müller

and Andreas Quednau, SMAQ

- Brand Dubai: The Instant City; or the Instantly Recognizable City, Samer

Bagaeen

Publications/Articles

- Traditional Architecture in Dubai, Dubai Municipality

- Tourist Map of Historic Buildings, Dubai Municipality

- Elements of Traditional Architecture in Dubai, Dubai Municipality

- Historical Building in Dubai Before & After Restoration, Dubai Municipality

- Traditional houses of Dubai, Dubai Municipality

- The Emergence of a New Urban Brand “Dubaization”, Ali A. Alraouf, Ph.D

- Globalizing Dubai: Transience, Dwelling and Hospitality Tensions, Amir M.

Abdella

Websites

- www.dubaitourism.co.ae

- www.uaeinteract.com

- www.wikipedia.com

- www.alshindagah.com

- uaearchitecture.wordpress.com

- www.worldarchitecture.org

- www.academia.edu

- www.sesam-uae.com

- www.dubai-architecture.info

- www.insightguides.com

http://www.dubaitourism.co.ae/

http://www.uaeinteract.com/

http://www.wikipedia.com/

www.alshindagah.com

uaearchitecture.wordpress.com

www.worldarchitecture.org

http://www.academia.edu/

www.sesam-uae.com

http://www.dubai-architecture.info/

http://www.insightguides.com/

50

Conceptual project

In addition to this theoretical research and to enhance my project I had the idea to

make some proposals for a conceptual exhibition pavilion that could be used as

places/galleries to show Dubai’s architecture, either as a part of big interior

exhibition or as a unique small building.

During my study in Dubai’s architecture I realized that the only characteristic kept

from the very first building till the new building we see today is the Islamic pattern.

The Islamic pattern was used in the first buildings as a decorative element either in

the carpets or rags or as ornaments to decorate walls or entrances and of course it’s

the main characteristic for all mosques from the past till today. In today’s

architecture it’s prominent in many parts of architecture. Either as decoration or

structure or even as landscape design. It’s a huge chapter in architecture and played

important role to almost all building with Arabic style. Following are some drawings

and sketches to give a small clue. More information and a better illustration will be

shown during the presentation.

51

A.

The design of this pavilion/gallery mostly conceptual is based on the geometry of the

Islamic patterns. It is a building facade system developed to provide solar protection for

the art while still allowing for visual connections to the exterior. The patterns used show

the geometry of the lines that form the pattern. It shows how from simple polygons or

circles by playing with lines and symmetry we can reach to complicated patterns. It is a

symbolism of how the architecture of Dubai from very simple constructions as tents was

developed to the “chaos” we see today.

Pattern

52

Renders

55

B.

In the second proposal the pattern is used on cubical building on a bigger scale as

partitions on the roof but also on the sides.

“the hybridization between local characters and ...the persian gulf. in 1507, the portuguese...

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